Perfect in Weakness

"We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sending us a copy of your book. I cannot tell you how happy I was to receive it. I was having the worst day; and it really lifted my spirit. Even though I know I am not the only mother to go hrough this, there are days that it feels like I am. It is wonderful to hear from someone with firsthand experience. There is too little information out there on this subject.

I have started reading the first chapter and I find that I have to read it in small doses. Many of the situations you describe are so similar to our son’s that I find myself breaking down. The tears are good and help to cleanse the soul.

We serve an awesome God and His grace is all sustaining. Thank you again for answering His call to write this book. It was comforting to read that others, including Tina's husband, experienced the same emotions as the two of us. I believe it is a basic owner's manual for recovering from the loss of a child."

--Stephanie, GA

"Losing my stepfather was hard - it was the first time in my life I found myself just a little upset with God. My husband thought I was crazy (and I say that jokingly) because I lay beside him reading the book crying (almost sobbing) at how honest you were about you and Seth being angry with God. 

It was like a release that had been on the inside of me. I felt like something had to be wrong with me for feeling like that - surely no one who was in the word and had a relationship with Him could ever feel what I was feeling, and until I read your book, I never told one person how I felt about it. The night I read the book was the first time I talked about it and told my husband what I had felt. The book is great!"

--Tiffany, GA  

"It takes a selfless person to candidly share their most painful moments so that others can benefit from their experience. This is exactly what Tina Bryson and her husband Sebastian do in the book PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. Tina delivered her twin boys, Ethan and Elliot, 17 weeks early, and by the end of a long, emotionally draining five months, both of children died. The book is as much a biographical piece as it is a self-help book. In each chapter Tina, drawing from entries of a journal she kept at the time, writes about her experiences, shares scriptures and sometimes hymns that encouraged her during that particular period. At the end of each chapter, she includes a section titled "Think About It," where she she lists questions and activities for readers going throuh their own periods of grief to complete.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was called "Men and Grief." This chapter includes Tina's thoughts on how the illness and subsequent death of her children impacted her husband and their marriage. She explores how her husband Sebastian grieved diffrently, and her struggle to understand and accept those differences. In addition, a passage written by Sebastian himself is included, so readers are privy to his thoughts and feelings. The chapter concludes with Tina commenting on their continued struggle as a couple to cope with the loss and move on with their lives without forgetting their common loss.

PERFECT IN WEAKNESS is a moving account of one family's loss and it highlights the spiritual and emotional journey that resulted from it. In addition, it provided general information about the grief process (specifically the loss of a child), activities, scriptures and general encouragement for readers experiencing similar situations. Most importantly, the book is a fine resource that will be extremely useful for those looking to take a difficult situation and grow as a result of it. Having lost my mother when I was a child, I recall hearing my grandmother recount that there is no loss like losing a child on any number of occaisions. When I became a mother myself, I thought I better understood what she meant by that, but after reading Tina Bryson's book, I now realize that my understanding was limited. She presents the experience with such heartfelt intensity that I couldn't help but empathize in a much deeper way. As such, I would also recommend this book to friends and extended family members of persons grieving the loss of a child."

--Reviewed by Stacey Seay of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

"Tina has provided such a tremendous testimony of God's love. Anyone who has suffered will be encouraged that, through God, joy will return. Tina and Seth's story, as well as the many others in the book, truly touched my heart and, once again, demonstrated the power of God's love."

--Barnes and Noble reader review

"If you've ever had any type of loss in your life; be it divorce, death of a loved one, friendship ended, etc. then this is a must-read. Tina Bryson and her husband teach through their own personal struggles and triumphs how you can begin the path to true healing. But make sure you keep a box of Kleenex close by, because Mrs. Bryson engages all the emotions."

--Amazon.com reader review

"The book was a great emotional support for me. It helped me to recover...by allowing me to deal with my emotions. It can be a valuable tool in the recovery process for anyone dealing with the loss of a child."

--Jennifer, Milwaukee, WI

"It was comforting to read that others, including Tina's husband, experienced the same emotions as the two of us. I believe it is a basic owner's manual for recovering from the loss of a child."

--James, Milwaukee, WI

Road to Recovery
(presentation on grief)

"Tina Bryson provided our public library audience with a compelling personal story. She progresses easily from her personal story to its universal lessons....intelligently passionate, liberating, constructive and sensible."

--Todd Bastin, MLS, Athens Public Library,
Adult Programming Coordinator

Becoming the Woman
God Chooses To Use
(seminar for women)

"I learned things I need to realize in order to find my vision and purpose in life that God has set aside just for me."

--Judy, Albany, OH

"One thing I will do differently is to take the initiative to step out of my comfort zone knowing that the passion in me is the thing that God has placed there. This was a word in due season for me and spoke to many of the things I have recently been praying about."

--Toby, The Plains, OH

Submit Your Testimonial
Please send your comments to: tina@tinavbryson.com